241,

Attersass 502, end of winter.

The residents of Allen City are enthusiastically celebrating because in the battle to annihilate the demons, the Allen Army has conquered Seven Sins City, which had not been successfully invaded for five hundred years, with a lightning-fast attack.

This feat is as powerful as the Dragonfire Battle in the Holy Capital Kakarl years ago, and even the Steel Tribe is afraid because of this battle, causing their small outpost on the borders of Allen City to withdraw one after another.

The whole city is passing through the winter with cheers.

On a street near the slums, a group of commoners is also chatting and engaging in their usual daily banter.

"I'm telling you~ Allen has been growing stronger since our hero killed the Grand Chancellor."

"Exactly~ every street is lively now. Before? I didn't even dare to go out."

The first one is Zhang San, and the second one is Li Si, having a leisurely chat.

"Oh? Mrs. Chen, are you going to pick up your son today?"

Suddenly, Mr. Zhang stops a mother.

The elderly woman is dragging her son, hurrying back home.

"Yes, yes~ it's late, I'm going to pick up my son for dinner."

"That's great~ If only my son listens to me. Every time I ask him to come home, he refuses to leave his friends!"

"Hahaha~ Mrs. Li, your son is so lively, isn't he? Hahaha~"

"Goodness! Only Mr. Zhang can be so optimistic, you know..."

Suddenly, one of the ladies whispers softly.

"Didn't we recently discover a group of demons lurking nearby?"

"Oh~ I get it! So that's why Mrs. Chen is picking up her son? Hahaha~"

As if understanding something, the man bursts out laughing again.

"Ha, hahaha~ yeah, you know that now. It's better not to let children play on the streets for too long, just be careful."

"Yeah, yeah, those demons! A cunning bunch of monsters. If I see them, I'll definitely kill them all~ hahaha~"

"That's right, leave it all to the Allen Army. No need to be afraid anymore~"

"Yeah! Mrs. Chen, you don't have to worry too much. Actually, I heard that your son can use magic at the age of five~"

"Really? Mrs. Chen, that's so enviable."

"Ha, hahaha... Thank goodness for this blessing from above."

"I also wish my son could use some magic~"

"It must be innate, right?"

"Hahaha! I hope your son can take care of our neighbors in the slums in the future~"

"Well, well..."

Just as Mrs. Chen was about to turn around, Mr. Zhang spoke up.

"But... using magic at the age of five... Is your son a demon?"

Instantly, the atmosphere changes.

A second of silence stains this joyful chat, but Mr. Zhang quickly laughs again.

"Hahahaha~"

"Oh my, help! We've known each other for more than twenty years, don't play such jokes."

"Yeah! Mr. Zhang, you really scared me there."

"Hahaha! Yes, yes, just a joking remark. How can we laugh if I don't say anything?"

"Haha! Oh my, how true!"

The cheerful chatter continues, and after five minutes, Mrs. Chen looks at the sky.

"Oh my goodness!? We should stop chatting, I really have to go home and cook."

"Hahaha, alright, alright."

"Son, let's go home now."

After the great war, demons became a daily topic. Previously, demons were rarely discussed because it was taboo, much like summoning a demon. No one would bring it up voluntarily.

But now, because of the defeat of the demons, people started to think that demons were nothing more than that.

The horror lost its value, and that darkness was no longer enough to inspire fear.

But as these jokes started happening in the streets and alleys, a darkness was spreading.

Mrs. Chen stopped when she entered a back alley with her son.

"Mom?"

She hugged her son tightly.

Through this embrace, the young child felt a sense of unease.

Perhaps it was a transmission of emotions between mother and child. Although he didn't know why, this uneasiness slowly emerged.

"Son, remember... You are human, do you understand?"

Trembling hands were felt on the child's back. Even though he was being held and could see his mother's expression, he realized that his mother was feeling uneasy. So, the child decided to comfort her.

"Yes, Mom, I understand!"

And so, the tiny boy answered his mother with a smile.